Plans for Barnesville’s July 4th celebration to mark Ohio’s Bicentennial will be discussed at a meeting this week.

Deaths this past week include Raymond G. Christman, 97, of Pigeon Point, retiree of the Landmark feed mill, and Evelyn Gibbons, 89, who died in Perrysburg. She and her husband Bob operated a grocery store in Somerton for many years. Later, she worked at the Belmont County Children’s Home.

Twenty-five Year Ago – 1988

The neighborhood market, a bit of Americana that has faded from the modern scene, is still going strong as Herb and Mildred Hall mark their 40th anniversary on S. Chestnut Street on February 4. The Halls estimate they have made over 208 tons of Herb’s famous ham salad in the past four decades.

The village will purchase the lot just north of the main entrance of Memorial Park from Roy and Janet Morgan Coates for $7,000.

Dr. P.K. Souri has been elected president of the Belmont County Medical Society.

Commodore Court Apartments, consisting of 10 apartments for individuals with disabilities, has opened on Commodore Lane just off of S. Lincoln. The project was developed by Alternative Life Styles, a subsidiary of Community Mental Health Services of St. Clairsville.

Barnesville native Larry Marmie is tabbed as speaker at the annual Chamber of Commerce Spring Banquet.

The New Ash Inn, owned and operated by Ralph Anderson and Eugene “Doc” Householder, opens in the former Elks Lodge building 220 N. Chestnut Street.

Fifty Years Ago – 1963

A $58,000 church improvement program is underway at the Catholic Church which suffered damages in last summer’s fire. Improvements include a new pipe organ, plush carpet and 14 newly carved stations.

Moore’s Store, currently located in the Kirk Building, corner of Arch and Main, will relocate to the new Bohandy Building where the J.C. Penney Store was located.

The new Barnesville Airport Ski Slope is now open. The project took several months of work on the part of Clyde “Sheets” Wittenbrook, airport manager. The 800-foot ski slope and tow is drawing in both enthusiasts and beginners.

Seventy-five Years Ago – 1938

The J.C. Penney Company has secured a five-year option to lease the new Bohandy Building on E. Main.

The state township trustee association asks the legislature for authority to regulate liquor “hot spots” outside of cities and villages.

A prisoner in the local lockup was caught using a spoon trying to dig his way out of jail. He has removed the concrete covering of two bricks in the west wall of his cell.

The Ford Agency will move to the Community Garage building on S. Chestnut Street shortly.

Two teams, one consisting of “fats”, and the second one “leans”, will compete against each other at Friday’s Belmont Grange meeting. Each group will provide a 45-minute program and points will be given on the quality of the entertainment.

Jack English, little five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross English of Ohio Street, will again be heard over the radio on Saturday morning. He will pay his Hawaiian guitar on the Stifel Kiddie Program on Wheeling’s WWVA.

One Hundred Years Ago – 1913

From the Whetstone

Belmont County is rapidly becoming known in the oil and gas world as the result of the developments of the past few months. Gushers in the Armstrong Mills field and the Flushing field come from wells producing between two and three million feet of gas a day.

The United Dairy Company stockholders held a well-attended meeting here Saturday afternoon at which time W.O. Chappell was elected president. Other officers from Barnesville include D.O. Sheppard, W.L. Holloway and Charles Holloway. Also on the board are Harry Herzberg of Bellaire, W.C. Davis of Pittsburgh, and W.J. Bundy of Harrisville.

A large force of men is busy, weather permitting, excavating for the monster garage of A.E. Kennard & Son on N. Chestnut near Main. The structure, when complete, will be one of the most modern and convenient buildings of its kind in this part of the state.

The death of John Henry Neptune, born near Union Methodist Church in 1848, occurred at his home near Mt. Olivet on January 24.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Shepherd, W. Main, a son on January 22.

Nathan Adkins of Dorothy, W. Va. is a living tobacco ad. He has always used baccy and is 108 years old and expects to reach the 150 mark!

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Twice Told Tales is compiled by Bruce Yarnall, former general manager of the Barnesville Enterprise. He can be reached at bayarnall@yahoo.com.